Nov. 27th, 2010
Rating: A-
Although the poster of "The King's Speech" is ugly, the whole movie exudes a traditional charm of "Made in Britain". "The King's Speech" is like this year's "The Queen". The British team created and tells the story of the British royal family that is beloved by the academy. Even the temperament of the film is somewhat similar. What really connects them may be the blood relationship between the protagonists of the two films in real life-King George VI is the biological father of Queen Elizabeth II.
The scenes and costumes of "The King's Speech" restore the film to the 1920s and 1930s. The industrialized Britain gradually declined due to the untimely system, and was overtaken by Germany and the United States. King George VI (played by Colin Firth) came to the throne in such an embarrassing context, somewhat helpless. The closing speech of the "British Empire Exhibition" held at Wembley in 1925, because Prince Albert's stutter at the time made him make a fool of himself. Since then, his wife (played by Helena Bonham Carter) has been helping her husband find someone An excellent speech therapist. Until I found the Australian-born speech therapist Leonel Rogge played by Jeffrey Rush. After the death of his father George V in 1936, he was supposed to be succeeded by the brother of Albert (later George VI, also known as Bertie, the family nickname), who had not yet been king at the time. However, his brother Edward VIII The beauties did not love the country, so they chose to abdicate and became a king in British history who abdicated before being crowned. The burden fell on Albert, who didn't want to be a king. The most helpless and embarrassing thing was King George VI's stuttering. Based on history, the film revolves around the friendship between George VI and speech therapist Roger and George VI’s efforts to overcome stuttering.
It can be said responsibly that Colin Firth, following last year's "single man", lost his husband's heart-wrenching great acting, this year once again brought an applauded superb performance. First of all, everyone is concerned about playing a stuttering king. Everyone who tries his best to utter the words, the audience can clearly hear the consonant pronunciation of the hesitant but bound by invisible power. Not only that, but Colin supplemented its truth. His expressions and actions were like stuttering on George VI's upper body. While he was speaking, he couldn't help making the audience feel that his tongue suddenly became muddy and difficult. It was definitely a shocking sense of introduction. Secondly, Colin is also top-notch in grasping the subtle aspects of George VI's emotions. The trouble with his own stuttering drove him to try to get in touch with the speech therapist Roger, and his love for his wives and daughters may be the power he can still communicate with them smoothly. The death of his father George V and the abdication of his brother Edward VIII undoubtedly affected him. On the one hand, the departure of King George V made him feel sad, and on the other hand, it was also a kind of relaxation and relief to tell his brother. At least Prince Albert at the time did not want to be a king, and stuttering has always been a piece of his heart. Colin Firth was very pure. And when he learned that Edward VIII was about to abdicate and was about to give way to him, his anger and concern about stuttering were once again perfectly displayed by Colin. Immediately after he became a king, the two youngest daughters changed their names to their fathers as Your Majesty. In that moment of sluggishness, all the emotions of the internal organs were definitely emerging. In that scene, even saw the coronation of Oscar.
Colin Firth’s George VI is a slightly introverted character, but the acting is an outgoing character. In contrast, the speech therapist Roger, played by Jeffrey Rush, is a character who has unrestrained confidence in his own treatment methods, but is emotionally restrained. He speaks with a little humor, and he has regarded Bertie as a friend from the beginning. He also has a way to make Bertie open his heart to him and face difficulties. Rogge kept motivating Bertie with words. In fact, he sincerely hopes Bertie can get out of the predicament in his heart, not just on stuttering. Jeffery Rush is strong enough to speak his inner lines through his words and actions. In fact, it is not easy for such a restrained and calm character.
Helena Bonham Carter's wife role appears to be slightly less, and the character shaping of the character also appears thin in contrast. But Helena is like the woman behind a successful man, not only in the movie story, but also crucial in the film’s path to Oscar. In the play, her care and love for her husband was vividly manifested; outside the play, without her wonderful performance, "The King's Speech" would not be complete.
The screenwriter of this film has refined the story and added some pleasant humor jams to the language of the characters, so that the serious tone of "The King's Speech" is not dull and lifeless, and it can be regarded as the catalyst of the film. I mentioned the similarities between the film and "Queen" in terms of characteristics. There is indeed a sense of sophistication that resembles British drama. The story is concise but not simple, and the climax is appropriate. In addition, the soundtrack of this film is also the author of the Frenchman Alexander Disprat, and the several concertos of Mozart and Beethoven used are the icing on the cake.
Director Tom Hopper's last work "Damn League" won him a lot of praise, and I believe "The King's Speech" will bring him more glory. Warning: A luxurious royal carriage is coming to Oscar!
View more about The King's Speech reviews
